Sandeep Singh replacement in a day or two: IHF

8220;The coach and the support staff had a good look at two of the three replacements 8212; Jugraj Singh and Vikramjit Singh 8212; in the first two practice matches against Belgium. They will have a chance to see Raghunath against Japan,8221; K Jyothikumaran, secretary of the Indian Hockey Federation IHF told The Indian Express.

An agency report from Moenchengladbach adds that even if chief coach Vasudevan Baskaran and assistant coach Harendra Sigh are keeping their cards close to the chest, they seem to have already placed even skipper Dilip Tirkey on the wait-list for the crucial drag-flicker8217;s role.

Tirkey, never really known to have excelled in that job, had scored twice from penalty corners in the second practice match against Belgium at Cologne.

8220;Obviously we have a plan,8221; was all Baskaran has been quoted as saying.

Whoever the replacement, the first match at the pool stage would be crucial for the team. 8220;Since we have a tough pool, if we do well in the first match against Germany then we have a good chance of doing well in the entire tournament,8221; Jyothikumaran added.

Speaking about the visit of the international hockey federation FIH delegation led by its president Els Van Breda Viersman, Jyothikumaran said: 8220;They were here as a part of the International Olympic Committee8217;s initiative to earmark funds, and to study Indian hockey. FIH wants the support of the IHF, Indian Women8217;s Hockey Federation IWHF and Indian Olympic Association IOA for development of hockey, especially at the grassroots level.8221;

The secretary added that though the discussions were in the initial stages, they were very fruitful.

8220;I the will be in Germany during the World Cup where I plan to take the discussions forward and if all goes well then the international hockey federation official might come to India for a about six weeks to implement what we have discussed,8221; he said

Meanwhile, India is likely to host Belgium for a hockey Test series in November this year just before the Doha Asian Games. But the clashing of dates of different commitments might pose some hurdles.

8220;The IHF plans to organise the Test series against Belgium in early November. But, since their side has some club engagements back home, they are willing to play after November 15. In the meantime we are also looking at organising a four-nation tournament,8221; Jothikumaran said.

Speaking about the nature of the series, he said, 8220;Though nothing has been finalised it could be a short one, may be we can have a three or four-match series as it will be just before the Asian Games.8221;